Mactan Island

Just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Cebu City, Mactan Island is known for its great diving spots and fantastic resorts.

The five-star Shangri-La Resort and Spa was named as one of the best resorts in Asia by the Condé Nast Traveler. Dubbed as “an escape for the spirit and a sanctuary for the soul,” rooms here run anywhere from P12,700 (US$480) for a seaview room to P30,000 (US$700) for a suite.

The resort features its own marine sanctuary, where guests can encounter all kinds of marine life like yellow tail barracudas, puffer fish and lionfish. The Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary is seen as one of the best diving spots in Mactan.

If you find Shangri-La’s rates to be a little bit on the pricey side, check out Be Resorts Mactan. A modern-inspired hotel, Be Resorts has its own white sand beach, spa and three swimming pools. Rooms here run as low as P6,000 (US$130).

For those who are hoping to get some scuba diving training done while on vacation, they can check out Kontiki Reef, which is situated in the middle of Mactan. Tambuli, another diving spot, is not too far from here and allows visitors to explore the wreckage of a small sunken plane.

Another diving spot to visit is the Hilutungan Island Marine Sanctuary. One of the oldest sanctuaries in the area, Hilutungan is home to thousands of species of fish as well as colorful coral.

Mactan is also known for its food. Abaca Restaurant, which is just past Shangri-La, is one of the more popular restaurants in the area. The place serves California-Mediterranean cuisine and is famous for its homemade pizzas and pastas.

Another restaurant to check out is the Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant, just off the coast of Cordova Wharf. The restaurant offers great views of Mactan and the rest of Cebu, thanks to its strategic location of being in the ocean. While Lantaw serves great Filipino food in general, the seafood obviously reigns supreme.